Wini and the Big Bad Potions Master

[mroliverwood]

Date: October 3rd
Time: 6pm
Place: Hogwarts
Characters Involved: Snape and Wini, invitation only
Rating: Better be G, or Snape is a terrible man!

Comments

Re: The Search for Wini

[m4moony]

Wood was silent for so long, Remus began to fear the young man had gone into shock. An understandable reaction upon realizing one's daughter has vanished from under one's nose -- but wholely unhelpful in the moment when information and speed were of the utmost importance in finding her. After all, Remus did not know how much Wood had explored of the Hogwarts grounds during his school days, but Remus knew quite a bit about what dangers were out here for a two year old child.

"Twenty minutes? Right. Not long enough to get far on foot, but if she was riding a broom..." Even a toy broom would take a small child much farther much faster than her feet.

For a moment, it seemed as if Wood was calming down. He was able to provide much more detail for Remus to work with -- little blonde girl, blue dress, most likely riding a broom, possibly moving about at random. If she'd made it to the castle, she was likely far safer than if she'd headed off into the Forest or about the grounds. Remus was steadfastly refusing to think of what might happen to a small child accidentally caught by the Whomping Willow which still stood to guard the secret path to the Shrieking Shack.

"Hermione?" The idea took Remus momentarily by surprise, but there was no time for further discourse as Wood was streaking across the grounds toward the cadtle. Only belatedly did he remember that Hermione had been the little girl's minder before she had come to be Remus' assistant.

Even with lycanthropically enhanced speed, it was an effort keeping up with Winifred's frantic father. It wasn't until they were almost at the castle that he finally caught up to wear he could keep a steady pace with his team's quidditch coach. By that time, Remus' right knee was reminding him that it had only been two weeks since it had become intimately acquainted with the heavy batons of the WCU.

"Wood! Slow down before you bowl someone over," Remus called ahead as he, himself, dodged a fourth year at the main entrance.

Re: The Search for Wini

[mroliverwood]

Oliver didn't slow down. He kept running, but, Lupin's words did remind him to pay more attention to the people around him. He barreled up the stairs, taking them three at a time, rushing through Hogwarts to Hermione's door. He didn't even bother to ask anyone if they had seen Winifred. He had a burning in his chest that somehow she'd be with Hermione, that somehow she'd be safe in her arms, doing some sort of coloring. She'd berate him for having lost track of her, but they'd be together and everything would be fine.

He got to his door and bagged on it quickly, four quick, hard, pat-pat-pats-pats.

"Hermione!" he called. "Hermione! I need to speak to you! Do you- - Do you have Wini?"

He leaned his head against the door, breathing heavily. A few fourth year girls walked by, giggling excitedly, and he heard one of them say, "Witch Weekly.."

Re: The Search for Wini

[thelastgranger]

Hermione’d been happily minding her business, face down in a book as she tried to remember the magical properties of common tree roots.

But the illusion of concentration was broken when someone tried to beat her door down.

Oh great, Oliver Wood. But… What? Why would she have Wini?

“Hold on.” Hermione left the book open on the bed as she quickly moved to pull the door open. Oliver looked out of breath and clearly distressed and her eyes widened in concern.

“Oliver, are you alright?” Bitting her lip she straightened her shirt, feeling the usual worry start to make her pulse race. “Oliver, what’s happened?”

Re: The Search for Wini

[m4moony]

It tok Remus a moment longer to catch up with Wood. At the first landing he was accosted by Nearly Headless Nick. The Gryffindor ghost had heard the message Remus sent to the Headmistress and was on his way to speak to the other ghosts. He readily agreed to ask the Baron to keep Peeves under wraps -- Remus could only imagine what the poltergeist would inflict upon a little girl like Wini -- and was on his way.

But the time it took to debrief the ghost meant Hermione had already answered her door as Remus approached. He shooed the lingering fourth years on their way before turning to Wood to let him know of the short conversation with Nick.

"Nick's going to rouse the ghosts and paintings to keep an eye out for Wini as well," he said quickly, not realizing the young man had not yet had time to inform Hermione of the situation. "I've asked him to inform the Baron and make sure the Slytherin ghost keeps a tight reign on Peeves. Any luck? Is she here?"

Only then did he glance around and see the look of worried confusion darkening his assistant's countenance.

Re: The Search for Wini

[mroliverwood]

"She's not here?" Oliver said, the draining from his face. He felt as though he was gonig to fall over. "You're sure -- she didn't -- you didn't -- but then shes' --" Remus came up behind him and he looked at hte Professor, his face white and drawn.

"Then what do we... where could she have..." He gulped. The only other people Wini knew here were June and Katie, and she didn't know where to find them, did she?

"You don't think... ... monsters... What do we do...?" he asked. He closed his eyes, he was about to start running frantically in any direction, but he knew that that would do no good. He looked up at Remus, his eyes begging him to give an answer.

Re: The Search for Wini

[thelastgranger]

Why did she get the distinct impression she’d missed something?

Well, if Wini wasn’t here and she wasn’t with them, then she… Oh fuck.

Taking hold of Oliver’s shoulder, she gently rested her hands against his shirt, either side of his neck.

“Oliver.” She kept her voice soft a calm, making him look at her. “We will find her but you need to calm the fuck down. Now.” If he was in shock and babbling like a madman, he’d be no help to anyone, least of all Wini.

This wasn’t about Oliver and his crackpot theories, this was about a little girl that needed to be found.

“Remus, we need to find her and we need to find her now. Ideas?” Hermione turned her attention to her friend, knowing he’d be the most help as he probably wasn’t going in to shock over loosing his only child.

Re: The Search for Wini

[m4moony]

Now they were both looking to him for ideas and Remus had to pause, thinking rapidly of anywhere else the child might have wandered off to on purpose. There was always the chance that she had wandered aimlessly, entranced by this or that on the grounds, in the school. But it was easier to attack it one step at a time, eliminating all possible planned wanderings before fanning out to try and tackle the task of finding a child who was roaming the school with no clear objective.

Focusing on Hermione, as the calmer of the two, he shook his head in frustration.

"I sent a message to the Headmistress from the pitch to inform her of what's happened and ask for the house elves' help in the search. Hagrid and some of the palyers are searching the Forest. The rest of the team has fanned out around the grounds and you've heard what I said just now about Nick going to seek the assistance of the ghosts and keep Peeves under control.

"It seems she may have had a broom with her when she wandered off from where Wood had left her during practice. So, we have to consider that she could have gotten considerably farther than a child normally would have on foot."

Turning back to Oliver, Remus once again found need to pester the poor man with questions. But, reallly, the father was the only one who knew his little girl's mind and they needed to know as much as possible about where she might have gone.

"By now Minerva has alerted most of the senior staff, I'd wager, which means the Heads and prefects will be sent to help as well. Wood, does Wini know anyone else at the school? Any other Gryffindors who might have watched her for you during tryouts? Katie? June? Any of the staff?"

Re: The Search for Wini

[mroliverwood]

He closed his eyes, trying to focus, taking in deep breaths. "She, ah, she knows Katie, but wouldn't know where to find her. And she's met June. We went to the dungeons once, but, ah," he cast a sideways look at Remus. "She was petrified of Snape, and, ah, I don't think she'd go down there willingly."

His muscles that had felt so lax a few moments ago were strengthening back. "I've got to move," he said. "D'you think we should try to find Katie or June?" he said, looking at Hermione. He needed someone to tell him what to do so that he didn't fall into pieces.

Re: The Search for Wini

[thelastgranger]

Oliver needed to do something; Hermione understood that and had experienced it a few times herself. Offering a wry smile, she tried to follow the pace her brain was racing at, trying to THINK of something, anything.

Giving his shoulders a gentle squeeze she turned to Remus, feeling panicked and helpless. “It… Might be a good place to start? Start at the bottom? Work out way to the top?”

And now Oliver was looking to her to solve all his problems and shit, Hermione had no bloody idea! It sounded logical, if they could work their way through the castle, then… They’d know she was outside and… No. They’d find her.

Re: The Search for Wini

[mroliverwood]

Bottom. That was it, then. "We can try the dungeons," he said, his face still contorted in fear. He took a deep breath, giving looks to both Remus and Hermione before he turned and started jogging down the corridors. "Wini!" he yelled. The dungeons. Snape's dungeon. Maybe June had found her... She probably would have brought him down there, wouldn't she have?

Gods! Wini... Winifred...

He couldn't think too much about what could happen. He'd go completely insane if he let himself think about where she could be -- what she could be.

Re: The Search for Wini

[m4moony]

"It's as logical a place as any," Remus began thoughtfully, "particularly if she's with June. If she's not there, at least we can alert Severus to the situation, if Minerva hasn't already and he'll know June's whereabouts better than anyone else in the school."

Wood was way ahead of them, though, already heading toward the stairs and the way down. Casting a glance at Hermione as if to say 'following the leader', Remus set off after Wood. If nothing else, Remus could make sure they didn't trample over the students as the rushed through the halls and corridors. It was definitely one of the most 'interesting' trips he'd made to the dungeons during his many years of association with the school.

With any luck, it would be a happy visit, ending with Wini safely ensconsed in the office with June.

Re: The Search for Wini

[thelastgranger]

Hermione almost groaned.

Running?

Did she really have to? Pulling the door shut she headed after the two, both faster and fitter than she. Dodging a few students and a door, she bolted down the stairs, glad to see Remus and Oliver still in site.

But out of worry for Wini she thought it best not to think about just how unfit she was.